rec.autos.simulators

 Jim D.
http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Do youself a favor and come race with us in the VROC-F2 club for a
while.  Extremely civilized bunch and we're all pretty much focused on
learning to drive these things.  Go to the Vroc.Net homepage and
follow the link there for more info.

It's a great place to race...

Regards,
Brett C. Cammack
That's Racing! Motorsports
Pompano Beach, FL

--
Ken
http://BovineRacing.com

I actually saw a guy start from about 10th place that took off BEFORE
the flag was dropped thus overtaking the whole bunch. This pretty much
ruined my whole race. I'm not even sure whether GPL penalizes such
behaviour or not.

Back to your original question, as I am a master of letting people by
myself ;). Think in terms what would you like the guy in front to do if
you were behind him. I find three ways possible. Either start braking
slightly earlier before slow corners, and do not go for the apex. The
guy behind will see that you are not turning in and will take the inside
line. Make sure that you slow down to a speed that you feel comfortable
with for taking the different line; do not try to do this with the usual
speed you use through the corner.

If you are on a straight stick to the ideal racing line, and when the
guy in the back makes his move (check mirrors), lift of slightly to let
him pass, and as soon as you see him get in front of you floor it again.
Do not lift while the guy is still right behind you (Schumacher and
Coulthard in Spa come to mind).

Or, as suggested by Ken, enter a slow corner at your normal speed, go
for the apex, but after the apex do not accelerate as much. This will
keep you on the inside line and the guy in the back can pass. Do not do
this if he is really close, however, as he might hit you from behind.

Just be sure to be smooth so that your intentions can be better
estimated. I am quite sure you did everything right, though, it is some
oter characters on VROC that are to blame.

I've also noticed that the WWII communities are amongst the best out
there (I am into SDOE). Flanker or Falcon seem attract too many of the
same arrogant and conceited types.

I wish you plenty of incident free races, and hope to meet you on VROC.

-Gregor

If you see me online I'm "Highlander" and I'll race anybody anytime =)

Cheers,
...Colin

But also keep in mind that every games should be played by the rules.
If you don't, people don't like it. This is true with every game. Of
course, the GPL online community are freaks, playing their game while
wearing goggles and an helmet..... <g>

During practice, let people pass when not on an hotlap. Even go onto
the grass if needed. When you're on an hotlap, no matter how fast the
other driver is, just continue. Creating a clean lap is a skill in
itself...

During a race, do all what's needed to let the car behind you pass
safely. Brake earlier when you see that the car behind is preparing a
pass (not when he is still behind!), or take a corner more wide as
usual and accelerate less.  Always be predictable. And do not race
with them....

Remco

f2 is just more fun, it is a smaller community and it doesn't take long to
get to know the regulars.

d

SLG

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new
and improved ways of spelling old words. Grammatical errors are
due to too many English classes/teachers)

Some fast drivers, somewhere along the line, have lost the ability to
believe there's people out there who aren't (and sometimes never will be) as
fast as them. To those drivers the slow speeds us mere mortals take certain
corners at (and perceive to be the limit) are mindbogglingly slow and they
see no reason why we shouldn't be going faster. It would seem you ran into
some of them and the ill-mannered ones at that. I too have had to endure
remarks from the "pro" racers, but have failed to retire from on-line racing
however. I just meand I now have certain drivers "earmarked" as "to be
ignored in chat". It's a mistake for faster drivers to label slower drivers
as "less competitive" or "pushovers". IMO, if they want to beat us, they'd
better make damn sure they get to the finnish first.

If you legally own GPL and WinVROC, you are entitled to enter open races.
Your speed is their problem, so to speak. I am not advocating pissing
everyone off by acting as a mobile chicane on purpose, but there's no reason
for you not to be there or even leave because you're slower than the other
drivers. There's not really such a thing as teams in on-line GPL racing (F1
was kind of an individual sport back in those days), but you might want to
check out leagues featuring the lower formulae. Note: I don't subscribe to
the belittleling view of having to prove yourself worthy of driving an F1
(if that's what you enjoy doing, go right ahead), it's just my experience
there's less "ego" floating around there.

Instead of answering your points individually, let me outline my views on
the matter, as both doing the overtaking or being overtaken.

In practise you will get a blue flag whenever a car is close behind, even if
you have just passed it. When I'm on a "hot" lap (relatively speaking, of
course), I don't take a blind bit of notice of those. I am not moving over,
slowing down or conceding an entry into a corner, no matter who the guy/gal
behind is. He/she has run upon a backmarker on a qualifying attempt, tough
luck, he/she either aborts his/her lap or finds a way past. On an out or
cooling down lap, I will be planning to move over even before I get a blue
flag and will even drive off track if nescessary to present a clean passing
opportunity.

In the race I consider either overtaking or lapping a slower competitor to
be my problem. As forcing the issue with an outbraking manouvre is very
risky in online racing I won't attempt that unless the subject of my
attentions brakes way early in certain places or we're on the final lap of a
race. Generally I tend to hang back until the, in the case of a backmarker,
other driver moves over or, when it's for position, either makes a mistake
or a clear opportunity for a higher corner speed - out accellerating type
pass presents itself.

Likewise with being overtaken... the responsibility to make a clean pass
lies with the overtaking driver (at least until he draws level, from then on
it's fifty-fity).

When being lapped, most of the time one gets an early warning by the person
behind you going a lap down with reference to yourself on the pitboard. I
then try to "catch" the faster driver in a convenient spot to let him bye,
by either pushing or easing off a little. If that's not possible I just
stick to my line untill either an overtaking attempt is made or I arrive at
a convinient place. When the lapping driver decides to overtake I never
contest the issue, driving to minimize damage to my vehicle. I.e. I will go
off track to avoid a collision, but not so far as to run into an obstacle to
avoid contact. If I arrive at the convenient point along the track (usually
a slow corner linking to a straight) with the lapping car still on my tail I
will hold he inside through the corner allowing the faster driver to
accellerate past me on the natural exit line for the turn.

When being overtaken for position it all depends on the tactical situation
at the time. I might decide it's not worth risking an accident to defend the
position and act as outlined above. When I decide to make the other driver
work for it I will drive defensively and try to keep my challenge alive
while leaving the other driver reasonable room if an attempt is made.

Hope this helps,

Jan.
=---

Jan.
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Jan.
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<snip>
<snip>

----> OUCH!!

People do have a habit of ranting a little when people disturb them during a
race. The problem is that the faster guys (especially when racing sims) can
be overly aggressive and when you come behind a slower car can end up taking
him out!

The trouble is that there is an incredibly tall ladder to climb to get to
the top of GPL, greater than most other sims, that why these problems come
about.

The main problem with VROC is the labelling of races. They can be vague,
unclear or totally invisible, just implied! This is wrong. If the race is
"open" it must accept anyone, and in most cases there will be a number of
fast cars along with a number of slow cars.

I've had problems with other racers, not really verbal comments or anything,
on the track I mean, since VROC doesn't accept  player having Lag too well,
there is always the slight possibility for be catching a back marker from
behind or a slowing up too soon for a leader when we hit 9pm around here and
my poor only modem can't take the impact of loaded servers and can't compete
with cable modems.

M advise is not to let it put you off, I never like to get into a "fight"
with someone on VROC or GS or something as nothing good ever comes of it. Of
course if you made a real blunder by accident maybe a simple sorry will just
let the other driver know it wasn't intentional as some fools do from time
to time. Most should be ok with that, if they persist however, I'd just
advise you to not make the situation any worse, ignore them.

The problem with an experienced driver about on any server like this is that
if they see a newbie ahead on the track they often can't anticipate what the
newbie will do. Most people are just genuinely new to online racing and are
just a bit off the pace aren't we all, bar about 5 lads....hhehe) but there
is the occasional fool who is there intentionally to ruin a race.

Hang around, get toknow people and they will trust you more on any server
like VROC, I know from experience wit these things once they know who they
are racing against they are more comfortable.

Yep- hold your line or else you might swerve into the path of the overtaking
car.  Villeneuve Sr might still be alive today if Maas had held his line.
Same concept applies to sim racing, only without the terrible consequences.

Dave Bradley